South-East Governors to investigate Army's attack on IPOB leader

The South-East Governors Forum is set to investigate the clash between the Nigerian Army and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Nnamdi Kanu.

This was disclosed in a press statement issued by the forum's spokesperson, Michael Udah, on Tuesday, September 12, 2017.

He revealed that the forum will meet to determine the true account of the events that led to the clash that left several people injured in Umuahia, Abia state on Sunday, September 10.

In the statement, Udah also dismissed previous reports of the governors condemning the attack in a press statement that was attributed to him.

He said, "Reports in the social media that the governors condemned the alleged attack on IPOB members are false, but instead, they are working assiduously to bring lasting peace and stability to the zone.

"I did not tell any medium on the social and print media that the governors condemned the incident as they would soon meet to review the situation."

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While reports indicated that soldiers had tried to gain access into Kanu's father's compound in Afaraukwu and shot at IPOB members who formed a human shield to keep them out, the army has dismissed the claims and said the soldiers had been attacked with stones while passing through the residence in a new armoured carrier.

While reacting to the incident on Monday, September 11, Kanu accused Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, of trying to incite his group into arming themselves to deliberately provoke a war.

He said, "Nigeria is bringing war to us, we're not fighting anybody. It is Buratai and his men that are bringing war unto us.

"They want us to become armed so that the world can say that Nnamdi Kanu is leading a violent armed group, which is not the case.

"They're provoking us to war."

The IPOB leader also maintained that the only way to end the group's agitation for an independent Biafra is through a referendum.